How to Succeed at Bike Swaps

Be Ready to Haggle

6 / 10

No price is set in stone at a bike swap, and hashing out a fair value is part of the allure. (Everybody knows the Monty Python bit on haggling, right?) The usual rules of haggling apply: Start low and work your way up, but keep the lowball pitches within reason. Ask a seller if he’ll bundle the wheels with the stem for a lower price. Don’t be afraid to walk away. Leave a card with your phone number and your price and let a seller know your price stands if he’s still interested later.